Inspect and question the apparent, shifty behaviour, 190 Wherein lurketh alone our witness of all physical law, As we read the habits unchanging of invisible things, Their timeless chronicles, the unintelligent ethic of dust: In which dense labyrinth he who was guiding avised me, With caution saying 'Were this globe's area of land Wholly cover'd from sight, pack'd close to the watery margins With mere empty vessels, I could myself put in each one Some different substance, and write its formula thereon.' Thus would speak the chemist; and Nature's superabundance, Her vast infinitude of waste vāriety untold, 200 As[v]her immense extent and inconceivable object, Squandering activities throughout ēternity, dwarfeth Man's little aim and hour, his doubtful fancy: what are we? Our petty selfseekings, our speedily passing affections? Life having existed so extravagantly before us; Earth bearing so slight a regard or care for us; and all After us unconcern'd to remain, strange, beautiful as now. May not an idle echo[v]of an antique pōetry haunt me, 'Friendship is all feigning, yea[v]all loving is folly only'? --Yet doth not very mention of antique pōetry and love 210 Quickly recall to better motions my dispirited faith? And I see man's discontent as witness asserting His moral idēal, that, born of Nature, is heir to Her children's titles, which nought may cancel or impugn; Not wer' of all her works man least, but ranking among them Highly or ev'n as best, he wrongs himself to imagine His soul foe to her aim, or from[v]her sanction an outlaw. Nay, but just as man should appear more fully accordant With things not himself, would they rank with[v]him as equals: Judging other creatures he sets them wholly beneath him; His disquīet among manifold and alien objects 221 Bēing sure evidence, the effect of an understanding, And perception allow'd by Nature solely to himself.